Woodcrest Spanish Immersion
August 17, 2022 Newsletter
See translation information below / Consulte la información de traducción a continuación.
October 26, 2022 - NEWSLETTER
Hola familias de Woodcrest,
I hope everyone had a good fall break and a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather!
Next week is a busy week for us at Woodcrest!
Wednesday, November 2–Friday, November 4: Fall Book Fair. Please see the PTO news below for more details.
Friday, November 4: Curriculum event and PTO family fun night. The theme of the family fun night is magic. A group of our teachers will offer snippets into “the magic of learning” that your child experiences each day at Woodcrest from 5-7 p.m. The PTO family fun night will run 6-8 p.m. We hope that you can join us for both events! We intentionally overlapped the times so that families and staff have time to experience both events at their leisure. More information for both events will be coming.
Looking ahead, Woodcrest is a polling place for Anoka County in elections being held on Tuesday, November 8. The voters are welcomed into the election area only which is in the cafeteria. Voters enter and exit through Door 3. Anoka County election judges are present all day to provide hospitality and security in the voting area. School day activities are separate from the election area and learning should not be disrupted. Students will eat lunch in the gym that day.
Just a quick reminder with Halloween and fall parties approaching that students are not to wear costumes to school or pass out candy or treats. Please see the “Need to Know” section below if you’d like more information.
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, Spring Lake Park High School’s fall play opens on Friday - Peter and the Starcatcher. It sounds like a great production for all ages!
Enjoy this last full week of October!
Jaime
Final reminder: Review and sign Student attendance and behavior agreement
If you haven't done so already, please take a few minutes to complete your review of student behavior and attendance expectations with your student(s).
- Log in to Campus Parent Portal with your district username and password.
- Select your student in the upper right corner.
- On the main menu click on DOCUMENT.
- Locate the Parent Documents section.
- Click on the 2022-2023 Behavior and Attendance Agreement.
- 6. Review the document with your student.
- 7. Sign and submit.
- 8. Repeat these steps if you have more than one student in the district.
See this video for directions on how to find and sign the agreement. If you have any questions, please reach out to your school's front office.
WCSI Fall Parties/Halloween Reminders:
Question - Can kids wear costumes at school?
Answer - No. We do not celebrate Halloween at school during the regular school day in SLP schools.
Our goal is to continue having celebrations at school while being mindful of their contributions to academics, health and wellness, and the needs of children. Our hope is to start a tradition of curriculum-related parties rather than parties focused on candy and costumes.
We believe the focus will benefit all students because….
- We’re celebrating our learning.
- We will use parties to enhance our curriculum.
- Student health and wellness is taken into account (avoiding the sugar overload)
- No child is left out (this alleviates the growing number of children who do not bring a costume every year and those who would prefer not to dress up)
- Violent/scary costumes are no longer a concern
- All students feel they belong (regardless of their culture and/or religion)
- Our school parties are not a duplication of what is happening in our homes, neighborhoods, and community
This focus in our parties means that Halloween costumes will not be worn to school, and candy or sugary treats of any kind will not be consumed or passed out at school during the regular school day.
Lifesaving, real-world skills in action
When Rochelle Lavalle, junior at Spring Lake Park High School, noticed a young family member choking on his food, she sprang into action using knowledge from her First Aid/CPR class.
Rochelle describes eating dinner with her family recently when her cousin, who is a toddler, started choking on his food. “I sat there for only a second, debating if I needed to help,” says Rochelle. “Then it was getting worse, so I realized I needed to step in and do something.”
First Aid/CPR teacher, Jennifer Neiss, has been working in the Spring Lake Park Opportunities in Emergency Care (OEC) program for nine years. “We as staff members and adults know from experience that there is such immense value in our OEC classes,” says Jennifer. “For students, sometimes it’s not until they are faced with a real situation outside of school that they realize how important and useful these skills really are. They can be life-changing and lifesaving.”
Industry Roundtable: Strengthening partnerships for students
More than 30 small and large business, non-profit, government and education leaders came together at Spring Lake Park High School on October 13. The conversation focused on how we can continue to strengthen partnerships and provide opportunities that benefit all students, the workforce and our community.
Community and industry partners contribute to all three career pathways offered at Spring Lake Park High School – Business and Entrepreneurship, Health and Human Services and Technology, Engineering and Design. Each pathway represents a need for future jobs. At the high school, students can pick and choose courses across pathways or go deep in one area. Several courses offer college credit opportunities.
Community and industry partners serve as guest instructors, mentors, tour hosts at their workplaces and more. They connect learning to the real world and help students gain applicable skills for their future.
Bus Buddies
This school year, students in fourth grade have been showing responsibility, leadership and cooperation by helping students in kindergarten get to the correct bus at the end of the day. It is so nice to see our older students take on a leadership role here at Woodcrest!
Catch the opening weekend of "Peter and the Starcatcher"
It's almost showtime for "Peter and the Starcatcher!" This fall play is the prequel to the story of Peter Pan, a family-friendly show that's suitable for all ages. We hope you'll come to support and enjoy award-winning Spring Lake Park High School Theater! Performances are October 28-29 and November 4-5 and tickets are available online.
Watch the cast members rehearse the musical number "Swim On."
Adult Pickleball Open Gym
Calling Pickleball lovers! With the weather changing, it's time to continue your Pickleball season indoors. Pickleball open gym at Spring Lake Park High School is a great opportunity for adults to drop in and play with a variety of partners as they rotate in and out to mix with others of similar skill level. All levels are welcome!
Pickleball open gym takes place most Saturdays this fall, October 29-December 17 and this winter, January 29-March 19. Sign up today.
Saturday Movie Classics - Frankenstein - Saturday, October 29, 11 a.m.
Join us at the Spring Lake Park High School Fine Arts Center on Saturday, October 29 to watch a free viewing of Frankenstein (1931) on the big screen. Let us know you are coming!
Pancakes and Panther Store Sale!
All are welcome to the Sunday, October 30 Panther Pop-Up Store Sale and SLP Lions all-you-can-eat breakfast, 8 a.m. - noon at Spring Lake Park High School cafeteria. Bring the family and enjoy pancakes, French toast, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and milk. More than 1,200 new items have arrived at the Panther Store. Check out the new gear and start your holiday shopping with a special 15% discount at the breakfast.
Big Buddy Breakfast at the Book Fair - Wednesday November 2, 7:30-9 a.m.
Students are invited to bring a special adult in their life (grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, neighbor, etc) to the Woodcrest Library for a FREE light breakfast (while supplies last) and be the FIRST to shop the Book Fair on November 2 from 7:30-9 a.m.. Teacher classroom wish lists will be available.
**Please note, Adult guest must stay with student until 8:55 a.m. Students already registered in Learning Ventures may go as usual. Students must be accompanied by an adult to attend event.
Book Fair After School Hours:
- Wednesday, November 2 - 3:45-5 p.m.
- Thursday, November 3 - 3:45-5 p.m.
- Friday, November 4 - 3:45-8 p.m. - Book Fair is open continuously from after school through the end of Family Fun Night.
DID YOU KNOW… For every $1 spent at the Book Fair, $0.55 comes back to WCSI in the form of Scholastic Dollars that we use to put MORE books in the hands of students!
Volunteers needed for next week
Over 50 volunteers are still needed for next week during the Book Fair and Family Fun Night. Shifts during Fun Night are only 30 minutes long so volunteers have lots of time to enjoy the night with their families. Sign up on Konstella or connect with the WCSI PTO.
Magical Family Fun Night - Friday, November 4, 6-8 p.m.
Join us for a FREE night of enchanting fun on Friday, November 4, 6-8 p.m. Enjoy games, art projects, photo stops, science experiments, and activities themed after some of your favorite Fairy Tales and the Wizarding World of Hogwarts. Pizza, tacos, nachos, ice cream available for purchase (CASH ONLY).
Come dressed as your favorite witch or wizard, fairy tale character, magical creature or just as you are (Muggles welcome). Costumes not allowed during the school day. During Magical Night, family-friendly costumes only and no weapons.
Woodcrest PTO Literacy Committee in a NEW Adult & Child Book Club
Join Woodcrest PTO Literacy Committee in a NEW Adult & Child Book Club where we will use stories from around the world to explore ways on how we can make a difference and help end poverty, improve education, reduce inequality, increase access to clean water and sanitation, protect the planet, and tackle climate change. You do NOT need to attend every month to be a part of the Book Club. Come to any event that works for your family. You must fill out the interest form to receive full meeting details.
Join us on October 27, 6 - 7 p.m. in the WC Pina Room for our first meeting, featuring national award-winning science teacher, Stan Mraz, speaking on responsible consumption in schools and home. We will read books with characters from Gambia and Guatemala, and complete a family STEM challenge. **Note: This is an adult-child event so adults must stay at all times. Siblings in 5th - 7th are welcome, younger siblings may not attend.
Future meetings:
- November 19 - Springbrook Nature Center - Green Cities
- December 11 - TBD - Zero Hunger
- December 17 - Feed My Starving Children Family Book Club volunteer event
To receive complete book lists, brief background information about each topic, and to be notified about each meeting, scan the QR code on the flier or click this link to the Interest Survey which has additional Book Club information.
- October 28, 29 and November 4, 5 - SLPHS Fall Play - "Peter and the Starcatcher"
- November 2 - Book Fair, Big Buddy Breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m.
- November 2 - Book Fair from 3:45-5 p.m.
- November 3 - Book fair from 3:45-5 p.m.
- November 4 - Book Fair from 3:45-8 p.m.
- November 4 - Harness the Magic of Learning, curriculum experience, 5-7 p.m.
- November 4 - PTO Magical Family Night from 6-8 p.m.
- November 8 - Voting Day, lunch will be served in the gym
- November 8 - Cookies/Coffee with the Principal at 4 p.m.
- November 9 - Picture Retake Day in Pina Room
- November 9 - CogAT tests
- November 14 - WCSI PTO Meeting, 6 p.m. in Pina Room
- November 24-25 - No school for students
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